Motherland Australia

This month, Motherland celebrates the positive impact our charity partner, the Isolated Children’s Parents Association, continues to make for families just like yours everyday. Their wonderful volunteers together have created branches throughout rural Australia - and their ‘relentless and always on’ advocacy continues to build and grow better educational outcomes for our kids. 

To bring this incredible work to life, today’s episode features one of their own, Steph Cowper. Steph wears many hats but her commitment to education and dedication to continuous learning shines through. 

Today you’ll hear about Steph’s own motherhood journey...from relocating from a coastal town to rural Queensland, losing her identity after her two kids were born and throwing herself into study, the realities of being married to a FIFO worker and her daughter’s early anxiety diagnosis. This is her story.

If you’re a parent at any stage of the education journey and are keen to make a difference, join the ICPA community today. Head to icpa.com.au to sign up and support their important work and give our kids the opportunities they deserve.

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Nicole Sandland was about to move to Germany to further pursue her professional dancing career when she fell in love with a bloke from the land. She went away for three months but came home, and what happened next was a whirlwind romance. Nicole and Luke packed up their life in Adelaide and moved to Jamestown in regional South Australia, near Luke’s family farm. The pair opened the town’s first gym, and then moved onto a property out of town, and then COVID hit. But unlike a lot of people, Nic really enjoyed the forced lockdown, because she’s not very good at slowing down and not doing things, and she’ll be the first to admit it. Nic is a mum to 18-month-old Seb, a trainer at Kate Ivey Fitness, and the founder, co-director and PT at her own gym, NicFit. In this very honest episode of Motherland, Nic joins me to discuss the ‘trap’ of trying to do it all, what happens when your husband quits farming to join your business, and the realities of being a mum who wants to work, but also wants nothing more than to be with her kids. If you’re also a mum who’s wearing too many hats and who's struggling with the mental load, you need to listen to this very honest conversation. This is Nicole’s story.

The ICPA is here to help you and your children thrive. Through their support, they can connect you with other families who understand your challenges, and can provide you with access to invaluable tools and resources to support your children’s learning at all ages and stages. Head to icpa.com.au — and  join today to give our kids the opportunities they deserve.

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Felicity Burton, a keen horsewoman from the age of five, is an exceptional camp drafter, and always knew she wanted a career on the land. And life on the land with kids has certainly had its ups and downs. Felicity was in the early stages of her second pregnancy, with twins, when she took her 20-month-old son Kory on a quad bike ride. They’d fed the horses. Put the dogs away. And we’re just moving a few sheep into the next paddock when they had an accident. With broken ribs and a shattered collarbone, Felicity was driven to hospital while Kory was flown to Brisbane with head injuries. He was placed in an induced coma and took weeks to wake up from it. At such a young age he had to learn to walk, talk and eat again. During their time in Brisbane, the Burton’s stayed at Ronald McDonald house, and that’s where Felicity got an idea. Along with two of her friends, she co-founded the Common Ground Foundation, providing low-cost accommodation for rural families whose loved ones are in hospital. This is her story. 

Felicity and Karl now have a paddock to plate arm of their business and distribute their beef across the country. To order, contact them HERE or phone 0431039809.

Our charity partner the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association, or ICPA have been advocating for families just like yours for 54 years. 

ICPA’s volunteers work hard to make sure that every child, no matter how far they live from the city, gets the best possible start in their education journey and that rural and remote students are not left behind.

Head to icpa.com.au — join today to give our kids the opportunities they deserve.

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What’s it like seeing someone else grow your baby? That’s a question I couldn’t help asking today’s incredible guest Jade Cooper. As you're about to hear, Jade hasn’t had the easiest of lives, but that hasn’t stopped her from going after the things that matter. Jade was just 18 months old when a lump was discovered on her kidney. The next three years involved countless trips to Brisbane for chemotherapy, radiation and checkups. Jade went into remission at just three years old, and her childhood is clouded with the memory of knowing she would never be able to have kids, but she wanted to defy the odds. When Jade met her husband, they started trying immediately, knowing it would take some time. Then they were hit with unthinkable news. So, they thought they’d try their hand at foster care...but the blows kept coming. For Jade, this was rock bottom. But then a woman messaged her, offering to be her surrogate.

Jade’s story is one of hope and never giving up on your dreams, no matter what is thrown your way. It also sheds light on what it’s like going through IVF, surrogacy and egg and sperm donors when you live rurally. This is Jade Cooper’s story.

Our charity partner the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association, or ICPA have been advocating for families just like yours for 54 years. Whether you have little ones looking to access early education, primary kids or those looking to access high school or embark on further studies or training, they care. 

Head to icpa.com.au — and join today to give our kids the opportunities they deserve.

https://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia

Nicole Seekamp always knew she wanted to be a basketball player. But a goat farmer? Well, that wasn’t part of her plan. When she was 14, she left her hometown of Renmark in South Australia and moved across the country to Canberra and the Australian Institute of Sport. Over the next 20 years, she played for not only our national team, the Opals, at the Commonwealth Games, but all over the world. By 2019 she was on track for her first Olympics.  But as the 2020 season drew to a close, Nicole knew she wouldn’t be returning to basketball, because she’d fallen in love with a Goat Farmer named Ross from Wilcannia. Ending her basketball career also meant walking away from a huge part of her life. But knew heart wasn’t in it anymore, and she also knew she wanted a new life with Ross. So what was it like swapping basketball courts and cheering crowds, for paddocks of red dirt and goats? And how have the first three years of Motherhood been with two under two? This is Nicole's story. 

If you’re sick of miscommunication and poor record keeping on your farm, Mobble is the livestock farm management app to improve communication, transparency, and productivity on your property. Try it FREE for 21 days at Mobble.io, and get everyone on the same page. Mention Motherland for 20% off all subscriptions! 

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I was speaking at the Rural Women Unite event in Charters Towers last month when I met Lisa Hodgkinson, a mum of 4 from Clermont in central Queensland. Lisa met her husband Glen when she was 18. By 19, the couple were married. And 2 weeks after they tied the knot, just as Lisa turned 20, she found out that she was infertile. It took 3 years, two pregnancy losses, and two more cycles, before their eldest daughter Mia was born. They continued to try for more kids, all via IVF. With their fourth baby Marlee, Lisa knew something was very different, and soon after she was born, Marlee was diagnosed with Down Syndrome. While it’s been a tough journey, she has enriched the lives of Glen and Lisa and their older girls, but living rurally has also had an impact on the care that Marlee can access. October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month and it’s also Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month. Lisa has experience with both. This is her story.

If you’ve experienced Pregnancy Loss and need support, call the 24/7 Red Nose Grief and Loss Support Line on 1300 308 307 or visit rednosegriefandloss.org.au. This is Lisa’s story. 

Are you raising a child with developmental concerns, a disability, or who is neurodivergent? Envisage is here to empower you and your family to feel confident and supported. Their FREE peer support program is designed to provide parents a compassionate space where you can learn, grow, and find the resources you need to thrive. There’s NO diagnosis or NDIS plan required— and…it's fully funded with no cost to you. Head to: https://envisage.community/

The Compassion Project is an organisation dedicated to helping mums face difficult days. They’ve launched the Emotional Support for Mothers Toolkit - designed to help you navigate every stage of motherhood. Over the next 12 months, EVERY rural mum who enrols in our Motherland Village online program will receive this toolkit, for FREE. To learn more head to thecompassionproject.au

Motherland Village enrolments for 2025 are now OPEN across all three age groups, 0-3 years, 4-10 years and 11-18 years. 

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Melissa McGilvray knows a thing or two about her world turning upside down. Because on two very ordinary days, nearly 20 years apart, that’s exactly what happened to her. Mel’s husband Garth went to chop some firewood, when the unthinkable happened. The tree he was cutting fell on him, and he died. As traumatic as it was, Mel knew she had to go on, for her, and for their little boy Oli. And then, a few years later, the universe weaved its magic, and Mel fell in love with Oli’s godfather, and one of Garth’s best mates, Scotty. But in 2020, Mel’s world turned upside down again. Scotty was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and he lived for 10 more months. Somehow, through all the grief, loss and heartache - she’s still got a positive outlook on life. This is a story of love, hope and how starting over again, and again, even when it seems impossible, is actually possible. It’s a story about how, through the very darkest of days, Mel has found joy again. This is her story. 

Are you raising a child with developmental concerns, a disability, or who is neurodivergent? Envisage is here to empower you and your family to feel confident and supported. Their FREE peer support program is designed to provide parents a compassionate space where you can learn, grow, and find the resources you need to thrive. There’s NO diagnosis or NDIS plan required— and…it's fully funded with no cost to you. Head to: https://envisage.community/

The Compassion Project is an organisation dedicated to helping mums face difficult days. They’ve launched the Emotional Support for Mothers Toolkit - designed to help you navigate every stage of motherhood. Over the next 12 months, EVERY rural mum who enrols in our Motherland Village online program will receive this toolkit, for FREE. To learn more head to thecompassionproject.au

Motherland Village enrolments for 2025 are now OPEN across all three age groups, 0-3 years, 4-10 years and 11-18 years. 

https://www.instagram.com/motherlandaustralia

When people go on a reality TV show to find the love of their life, it doesn’t always end in a baby announcement and a full-blown commitment to each other. But when Clare Hockings decided to try to find her life partner on Farmer Wants A Wife in 2023, well, things kind of ended that way. Clare was raised in Scone NSW, Australia’s horse capital. And later in the country music capital of Tamworth. She worked in childcare and the local stockyards and spent her weekends with her horses. So she knew what she was getting into when she decided to look for love with a farmer. And when she met farmer Brad from Cootamundra, she was pretty smitten. But at one point, Clare wanted to leave the show, but Brad asked her not to. And lucky he did that because when the final episode of the season went to air, Clare was already living with Brad, and she was pregnant! Clare and I talk about everything from finding love on reality TV to what happens when you find out you're pregnant in a relatively new relationship, and what the first eight months of rural motherhood have been like for her.

Our incredible winter podcast sponsor Cable is offering an exclusive 15% off discount on all full-price styles on their website! Visit cablemelbourne.com and use the code MOTHER15 for your discount, this offer is only available until the 30th of November.

Motherland will be back in your ears on Monday October 7 with a brand new Spring season!

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I met Deb Frecklington at Beef Week in Rockhampton this year at a cocktail party, and before she knew it, I’d roped her into sharing her story for the first time like this. Deb is a proud Queenslander who grew up on a cattle property. She’s worn many hats throughout her career including producer, and, politician. Amongst it all, she’s a mum to three girls.

Deb has served as the Leader of the Opposition, and the Shadow Minister for Agriculture just to name a few roles. She’s currently the State Member for Nanango and Shadow Minister for Energy and the Cost of Living, Shadow Minister for Water and the Construction of Dams and Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing. It’s a mouthful, and a handful, but throughout her career and humble beginnings, her values have been quite simple.

Family has always been her driving force. This isn’t a chat about politics (thank god!), this is a conversation about Deb’s personal journey including her love of the land, her passion for encouraging rural women to follow their dreams, and her remarkable family journey. This is her story.

Aside from knitwear and luxe wool coats, our winter podcast sponsor CABLE also specialises in other natural fibres, such as silk, Tencel and cotton - used to craft beautiful dresses and matching sets, perfect for a special occasion or event. Click HERE to shop.

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Meredith Boddington, or Merry, as she likes to be called, went through her 20s and 30s looking for Mr Right. Raised on a sheep farm near Naracoorte in South Australia, Merry trained as a teacher. Her work took her across South Australia and into Victoria. But still no Mr Right. And then she met Wayne. A farmer who was also from Naracoorte. It turned out the person she had been looking for for all those years was a bloke from her country town! Merry and Wayne hit it off instantly, and after they got married, they knew they wanted a baby. So, they went to the local GP, who sent them to Adelaide - a 4 hour drive away - to see an IVF specialist. Merry was approaching 50, and knew it wasn’t going to be easy. After 12 rounds of IVF and an egg donor, Merry fell pregnant at 49. Max, her son, is now 15 years old, and Merry joins me to share her remarkable story, and to give hope to those who still haven’t found the one. This is her story.

With 19 retail stores and counting, our winter podcast sponsors CABLE have cemented themselves as a leading Australian womenswear brand for premium woollen knitwear and coats, luxurious daywear and quality everyday essentials. In addition to locations in Victoria, NSW, SA, WA, ACT and TAS, you can also find CABLE in over 40 independent fashion stockists across Australia, and 18 in New Zealand.

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